LOUISIANA (KLFY) -- U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy spoke with the Broussard Chamber of Commerce on Thursday about his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how it can be used to improve local communities.
Cassidy recently announced a $1.35 billion investment to secure high-speed-affordable internet for Louisiana residents. Cassidy says this is just one example of the good the infrastructure investments and jobs act is doing for the state.
"I'm here to get stuff done. But I get stuff done better when I'm working with the state and when I'm working with the locals and when I'm working with private business. You put us all together, we punch above our weight. I want us to punch above our weight," Cassidy said.
Cassidy has advocated for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for years. He said his work in Washington is to ensure the people of Louisiana can get what they need.
"There's $3 billion in that infrastructure bill to help mitigate the risk of future flooding. Prioritizing states that flooded in the previous ten years. That's like an earmark for Louisiana. By the way, we get that because I was in the room negotiating," Cassidy said.
Cassidy said a long-term goal is making Louisiana a place where people want to stay and live. He said this investment will help do exactly that.
"... I want to give somebody one more reason to move to Lafayette," he said.
According to a news release from Cassidy's office, Lafayette Parish has benefited significantly from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Last year, $3.4 million was awarded to improve the safety of "high-risk, leak-prone" natural gas distribution infrastructure in Carencro and $4.4 million went toward residential flood mitigation programs throughout the parish.
